FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2014 file phtoto, OFI's coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gives instructions to his players during a Greek Soccer League match at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium against Olympiacos in the port of Piraeus, near Athens. On Monday, Nov. 27, 2017 AC Milan fired Vincenzo Montella and named Gennaro Gattuso as coach Monday after the club failed to produce inspiring results with a completely revamped squad. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis file)

Montella becomes a victim of higher expectations at AC Milan

By ANDREW DAMPF

Nov. 27, 2017

In the end, Vincenzo Montella became a victim of the heightened expectations at AC Milan.

When a club spends more than 200 million euros (nearly $250 million) on new players in the offseason, six wins in 14 matches and seventh place in the standings are simply not enough.

Unable to produce inspiring results with a completely revamped squad, Montella was fired as coach of AC Milan on Monday and replaced by Gennaro Gattuso.

"We all raised expectations a little too much in the summer but the fault lies only with the coach," Montella said. "These players deserve much more and I'm sure that they'll be able to emerge from this difficult period."

Milan has won only two of its past nine matches and has as many losses — six — as wins. The Rossoneri have been beaten by Lazio, Roma, Inter, Juventus and Napoli — the top five teams in the standings.

"Coaching Milan was an honor, and working with this team was even better," Montella wrote on Twitter. "I hope Rino can restore Milan to where it belongs."

The move came a day after a dispiriting 0-0 draw at home with Torino.

Milan announced in a statement that it had "parted ways" with Montella.

"We are very grateful to Mr. Montella and his staff for all the work done up to today, their commitment and professionalism," the club said. "Management of the first team is entrusted to Gennaro Gattuso."

A seven-time European champion, Milan is also facing financial fair play inquiries from UEFA after an offseason spending spree brought in an entire squad's worth of new players.

There have been questions over the financial stability of the Chinese-led consortium that purchased Milan from Silvio Berlusconi for $800 million in April.

The club needs a top-four finish and a place in the Champions League to acquire more cash flow.

Gattuso, a gritty midfielder who had been in charge of the club's youth squad, won the 2003 and 2007 Champions League titles with Milan as a player. The 39-year-old Gattuso also previously coached Sion, Palermo, OFI Crete and Pisa.

Gattuso, who also helped Italy win the 2006 World Cup title, was known for his intensity and relentlessness on the field — qualities the current Milan squad has lacked.

After the appointment, Berlusconi tweeted that he had a "long and affectionate and cordial phone call with my old warrior Rino Gattuso."